The 2025 Loulé Carnival concluded its second day of parades this Monday. Despite it not being a public holiday and not all parts of the country having a public holiday, approximately 10,000 visitors flocked to Avenida José da Costa Mealha to watch the country's oldest parade.
The 15 floats brought good cheer and their well-known satire to Avenida José da Costa Mealha. From Loulé to the world and from the world to Loulé, not even the biggest names escape Loulé's humor. On Sunday, the US president "dropped" in Loulé, but today the Trump doll was once again placed on the "Country of Trumpalhada" float, alongside his former rival in the presidential race, Kamala Harris. A satire on the issue of immigration, especially in the United States, which also deserved a close look at this Carnival's creative team and is performed in the parade by members of the Loulé Motorcycle Club.
The participation of the city's groups is also a hallmark of this parade. This year, Ginástica Clube de Loulé, EXISTIR, AGAL – Association of Friends of Loulé Groups, TUALLE – Tuna Afonsina de Loulé, Grupo Desportivo das Barreiras Brancas, Motoclube de Loulé, Associação DOINA, As Tradições de Loulé, and Contemporâneo Fusion are joining the festivities. Throughout the three days, they feature groups on foot and crew members from the floats, bringing to life the characters, the episodes, and, of course, the overarching theme of this year's Carnival: the water crisis.
A Portuguese Carnival with a Brazilian flair, thanks mainly to the participation of the Brazilian community living in the Algarve. This is the case with Taty, the statuesque dancer who, for almost two decades, has led one of the floats, body painted and dancing samba. She is undoubtedly one of the most photographed extras by tourists visiting Loulé.
For the second day, the Loulé Carnival attracted a significant crowd to the city's main thoroughfare, fulfilling a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century but which is renewed year after year.
The 2025 Loulé Carnival comes to a close this Tuesday. Starting at 3:00 p.m., floats will line up on Avenida José da Costa Mealha for the final day of the parade.
